Introduction
Cape Town’s food scene didn’t just “bounce back” this year, it’s been buzzing. New rooms, fresh chefs, and menus that feel both local and global. You can sense it in the updates dropping every week, from new alfresco spots to chef-driven tasting rooms. If you’ve felt the hype on your feed, you’re not imagining it. The city’s been racking up international nods while adding brand-new places to the map. If you’re hungry for what’s fresh, here are five openings worth rearranging your weekend for
1) Curate at Ellerman House (Bantry Bay)
A jewel box for grown-up food lovers. Curate opened in May inside Ellerman House’s dramatic Wine Gallery, with head chef Kieran Whyte leading a multi-course, South African-leaning tasting experience. Curate combines art, wine and seasonal produce woven together in a tight, intimate rhythm. It’s dinner only, Wednesday to Saturday, and bookings go fast. It’s one of the year’s most anticipated launches and an easy “special night” pick without leaving the city. Time Out’s local team called it a fine-dining destination set to make waves and they weren’t wrong.
2) Ongetem (Gardens)
Bertus Basson’s first inner-city Cape Town restaurant arrived in May and it’s loud in the best way. Inside the Canopy by Hilton Longkloof, Ongetem leans into open-fire cooking, nostalgia-tinted small plates, and a “butcher, baker, cocktail maker” swagger. The space boasts neon, bikes, courtyard energy, and proper cocktails. Start with wood-fired flatbreads, then chase down one of the punchy mains. Local press summed it up nicely: a wild, untamed take on a hotel restaurant.
3) The Fountain by Planet Bar (Mount Nelson, Gardens)
Laid-back, sun-splashed, and very Cape Town. This Mediterranean-spirited garden eatery opened in January on the lawns of the Mount Nelson, think burrata, prawn scampi, and limoncellomisu under striped umbrellas with a bottle of bubbles not far away. Heads-up: it’s a seasonal alfresco spot and closes for winter. It hits that sweet spot between casual and celebratory, and it anchors a bigger refresh of the hotel’s outdoor dining this year.
4) Seebamboes (District Six / Harrington Street)
A tiny, 16-seat mezzanine above Galjoen with a tasting menu that reimagines “surf and turf” the Cape Town way. Opened in March, Seebamboes plays with land-and-sea pairings, kelp here, aged rump there, guided by the Belly of the Beast/Galjoen team with chef Adél Hughes at the stove. It’s inventive, intimate, and proudly local. The concept launched this year with a set menu and serious attention to detail; early features called out its March opening and the playful, memory-driven plates. Book ahead.
5) Kanji Sushi (Heritage Square, CBD)
Ramen may have been the team’s first smash hit, but 2025 brought a dedicated sushi bar to Heritage Square. Kanji opened in March with a vine-shaded courtyard vibe and a tight, freshly rolled menu. It’s the kind of spot you slip into for an easy midweek dinner and end up staying longer than planned. Enjoy a meal during the late afternoon into early evening, when the courtyard softens and the city noise fades.
Final bites & booking intel
Cape Town’s 2025 newcomers span moods: glossy tasting rooms, fire-kissed nostalgia, and outdoor med-meets-Mother-City grazing. Check seasonal hours (The Fountain pauses July–September), and don’t be shy about booking, especially for small rooms like Curate or Seebamboes. The city’s still on a global streak this year, so you won’t be the only one chasing a table.
